February 25, 2011. Am I the only one who’s battling to muster any enthusiasm for the Cricket World Cup currently being played on the sub continent?
We were warned that it was going to be long . . . nearly seven weeks, and that the fireworks would probably only start in the South Africa v West Indies game played yesterday, but, nevertheless, this World Cup seems to be sliding past with hardly an eyebrow raised.
Just what is contributing to the immense boredom of the tournament? Have we become used to the hit and giggle format of 20-20 baseball? We expect every delivery to be launched into the heavens and to clear the boundary ropes by 40m (at least). Is it the lack of personalities, an Imran Khan, Ian Botham, Viv Richards (okay we do have Afridi)? Is it the length of the tournament, ridiculous if you ask me? Is it that South Africans are rather down on their team’s chances of lifting the trophy for a first time?
I’m not sure really, but usually during major tournaments I’m glued to sites like Cric Info, which offer ball-by-ball updates. Not this time round. A week of the tournament has already past and I just can’t get excited about this one. I’m not even aware on most days who’s playing who, or where.
A few things did awake me from my slumber this past week: The Netherlands gave England a right hard time posting the respectable score of 292 and making the Poms struggle all the way to victory with just eight balls to spare.
Then there was the hosts’ major stuff up in the West Indies v South Africa game, where the South African anthem was chopped in half. Brutal treatment for the Saffas, and red faces all round for the Indians. The game itself was, unfortunately, rather one sided.
This one reminded me a bit of the Ras Dumisani scandal in France, where the jovial Rastafarian butchered the South African anthem before a rugby Test match between South Africa and France.
On a positive note, bitter rivals New Zealand and Australia were really going at it this morning. With Brett Lee bowling with venom and snapping and snarling at the Kiwis’ opening pair, I was gripped and entertained by the contest. More of that kind of stuff I say. These candy coated walk over affairs in the first two weeks of the tournament drag the World Cup down to an unacceptable level.
Of interest to fans, the ICC has decided for the next edition of the tournament to limit the number of teams to 10, while the next Pro20 world tournament will be extended to 16 teams.
PS. Forgot to mention, was delighted to see Imran Tahir ripping through the West Indies top order. He’s got the X-factor, no doubt. Watch this space.- By Garth Johnstone